By Charles Lea on 03/02/2010
Colin Patch and I set off on the Eurostar for the tiny village of Chavignol, located within the Appellation of Sancerre in the Loire Valley. We were to be the guests of the wonderful Delaporte family, whose delicious Sancerre wines have appeared on our wine list every year since Charles and Patrick first started the company back in 1988.
By Patrick Sandeman on 31/07/2009
It is Sebastien’s day off and he gives up his day at the beach in order to attend a private wine tasting in the heart of Chelsea.
By Patrick Sandeman on 09/06/2009
Day two – another glorious day, with cloudless blue skies and only a gentle breeze – started with a longish, fast and winding drive to Tenimenti Luigi d’Alessandro near Cortona, where we were greeted by the rather lovely Valentina Davida, and the very charming owner, Massimo d’Alessandro…
By Patrick Sandeman on 09/06/2009
… Having booked my flights to Pisa and a four seater car, it seemed silly not to fill it – after all flights are still unbelievably cheap and the three nights accommodation were all being hosted at the vineyards. My back-up team was made up of Andrew Hooper (store manager in Barnes), David Porter (office and store manager Chelsea) and Peter Lorimer (on-trade sales manager), and off we flew…
By Charles Lea on 21/04/2009
A remarkable vintage which frankly no one is more suprised by than the producers themselves. Nobody was expecting the quality that has come from this late harvest.
By Patrick Sandeman on 12/12/2008
The run up to Christmas Eve is a long one for the wine-trade, and as we do not close our shops until 6.00pm, by the time we get home a sharp restorative measure is needed in order to take the edge off of exhaustion and at the same time make greeting Mother-in-Law all the more pleasurable…